Books & Early Literacy
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell (Lift-the-Flap Book)
The beloved lift-the-flap classic: the zoo keeps sending the wrong pet — an elephant too big, a lion too fierce — until the perfect one arrives. Its repeating pattern means toddlers quickly 'read' along with you, filling in words before you say them.
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How to Use This Toy for Talking
Let your child explore first — follow their lead. Watch what they look at, copy what they do, and add words to their ideas rather than directing the play. Then weave in the goals below for your child's level. A few minutes of shared, chatty play beats a long structured session every time.
Speech Goals by Level
Pick your child's level — not sure? Read the level guide. Each level shows goals for understanding (receptive language — what your child takes in) and using words (expressive language — what they say). Understanding usually comes first, so it's completely normal for the two to be at different levels. And every card has a step down and a step up — meet your child where they are on the day.
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Bronze · First Words
Understanding · receptive
- Follow 'Open the flap'
- Point to animals when named
- Understand 'too big' with gestures
Using words · expressive
- Say 'open!' at every flap
- Name the animals underneath
- Make animal sounds on each page
- Say the repeated 'sent him back!'
Key concepts
- Open/shut
- Big/small
- Animal names
- Back (sent back)
Finding it tricky? Drop all demands. Just play side by side and say the words for them — hearing words with zero pressure to speak is still powerful learning.
Too easy? If they copy words easily and use lots on their own, peek at Silver: take their word and add one of yours ('pop!' becomes 'big pop!').
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Silver · Phrases
Understanding · receptive
- Follow 2-step directions: 'Open the flap AND find the monkey'
- Understand describing words: fierce, tall, naughty
Using words · expressive
- 'Open the flap!'
- 'Too big!'
- 'Sent him back!'
- 'It's a lion!'
- 'Naughty monkey!'
Language structures
- Too + adjective (too big)
- It's a + noun
- Adjective + noun (naughty monkey)
Finding it tricky? Step back to the Bronze single words. Say their word, then add just ONE more ('ball' → 'big ball') — no need for them to repeat it.
Too easy? If two-word phrases are flowing, start modelling the Gold sentences during play and leave a pause — many children will surprise you.
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Gold · Sentences & Stories
Sentences to model · expressive
- 'They sent the giraffe back because he was too tall'
- 'I think there's a snake under this flap!'
- 'The puppy was perfect so they kept him'
Higher language
- Predicting before each flap: 'What's under here?'
- Explaining why each animal was sent back
- Retelling the whole story from memory
- Inventing new pages: 'What if the zoo sent a dinosaur?'
Finding it tricky? Shrink your sentences back to the Silver phrases and slow right down — long sentences are harder to process in the middle of exciting play.
Too easy? Move into storytelling: ask 'what happened?' after play, retell it together, or explore the final bands of the Talking Journey.
Julia's Parent Tip
After a few reads, pause before the repeated line and let your child finish it: 'So they sent him...' ('BACK!'). This fill-in-the-blank technique — speech pathologists call it a cloze task — is one of the easiest, most reliable ways to get reluctant talkers producing words, because the routine does the heavy lifting.
Ready to turn this toy into talk time?
Grab it on Amazon, then come back to this page during play — the goals work best with the toy in hand.
